Pre-Approved No-Risk Christianity

Do you notice anything wrong with the following verse?

“Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and inquireth of the local bank whether he doth qualify for a loan. Once he hastily listeth all his assets, he rejoiceth to learn that his application hath been approved for the full amount. Wherefore, he departeth from the bank and goeth and purchaseth the field.”

“Read this book!” “Find your life purpose!” “Join a small group!” "Play in our baseball league!” Can’t afford to give up your current lifestyle? No problem. Apply within for any program that will allow you to add “Christianity” to everything else in your life. The pre-approved, no-risk credit mentality has permeated our society and even offers a line of Christianity – free for any who will ask and accept.

Experiencing stress, strain or heartache due to your increasing debt load of responsibilities and problems? Search no further. We can help cover up all of your problems with our 6-month interest free personality profile that will float you enough self-actualization rhetoric to convince you that you’re going to be fine – as long as you keep making regular payments of weekly church attendance.

By and large, it seems that the self-proclaimed church in America is offering a pre-approved, no risk credit line that grants its recipients a chance to try out God and see if He isn’t a great addition to an overflowing list of worldly assets.

This is in stark contrast to what Jesus really says of the buyer in Matthew 13:44 – “[he] selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.”

The truth is there is no loan available. If you want to partake of the riches of the kingdom of heaven, you have to sell all that you have.

Does that mean you’ll have to sell your worldly philosophies in exchange for the intellect of God as contained in the Bible – to be guided by a Book that many consider archaic and irrelevant? Absolutely.

Does that mean that you’ll have to sell your worldly reputation and be willing to be known as an intolerant, narrow minded Christian? Let’s hope so.

Does that mean that you’ll have to sell your worldly pleasures and participate instead in activities that glorify God? Definitely.

So, why is it that someone would willingly endure all these losses? Not because our life here on earth will necessarily be improved, but because the treasures in heaven are priceless! The rich blessings of life in Jesus Christ will endure throughout all of eternity.

Oh, that more of us Christians would say with the apostle Paul, “I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” (Philippians 3:8) The signs of spiritual bankruptcy are all around us. How long will we persist in offering a temporary loan to enable enjoyment in this life when we know that eternal joy can only be secured when we “sell all that [we have]”?